Coming Events
- Feb 18, 2014 – Master Gardener Connect Session, Disease Identification of Herbaceous Landscape Plants – Amy Timmerman, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office
- Feb. 25, 2014 – Master Gardener Connect Session, Turfgrass Care and Management – Zac Reicher, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office
- Feb. 27, 2014 — Heuermann Lecture “Our Culture War Over Food and Farmingâ€, 3:30 p.m. Hardin Hall, Lincoln http://heuermannlectures.unl.edu/
- March 13, 2014 – Private Pesticide Training, York 4-H Building, 1:30 p.m.
- March 21, 2014 – Chemigation Training, York 4-H Building, 1:00 p.m.
Corn Grower/Pork Producer Scholarships
I’d like to remind area Seniors of the due date for the York Corn Grower and Pork Producer Scholarships. They’re due the Saturday Feb. 15. The application is posted on our website at: http://york.unl.edu/4hscholarships.
1st Annual Nebraska Ag Water Management Network (NAWMN) Conference
We had a great 1st Annual Nebraska Ag Water Management Network Conference last Friday with over one hundred producers, consultants, NRD and NRCS personnel on hand to learn about all the research that Suat Irmak and his team have been conducting and getting some insights into some of the future technologies that will become available.
Dr. Ronnie Green, NU Vice President and IANR Vice Chancellor, was the keynote speaker and did a great job highlighting the issues facing agriculture and how UNL is working to address them. Water is one of the critical to Nebraska as is the issue of big ag and GMO issues. We in agriculture must do a better job of letting people know what we do.
I want to again thank the Upper Big Blue NRD for providing coffee and rolls in the morning, lunch as well as cookies for break! This support is made the day possible.
Now is the time to be thinking about ordering your cost share equipment from the NRD before they run out of funds. This equipment would pay even without cost share, but the cost share helps shorten the payback period. Information about the NRD cost share program is available on our website: http://york.unl.edu/crops-future. Click on the Upper Big Blue NRD Irrigation Equipment Cost Share Order Form link.
Bill Collett was one of the producers that share one of his innovations during our conference. He developed a system to help improve removing the sensors in the fall. In 2010, he made a jack and used a pliers to clamp onto the sensor. In 2011, I used the locking pliers with the extended jaws which helped to hold on better with no damage to the sensor. He learned that other producers had similar problems and were looking for some type of puller so he began marketing them. If you’re interested, check out his webpages at: http://www.colledun.com/wdc_puller/.
Finally, I believe that there are potential part-time job opportunities for some young energetic individuals that would be willing to help producers install and remove Watermark Sensors.
Hunter Safety Education Program Planned
Dan Barrett called in and asked me to mention that he and Gene Bergen will again be conducting Hunter Safety Education Training Feb. 20, 21, 24, and 25. The classes will be conducted in the 4-H Building. To enroll, go to http://huntsafenebraska.org. The classes will run from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. each evening. For more information, you can contact Dan at 402-366-4380.
Dan would also be a good person to contact about his shotgun club. If you’re interested in other shooting sports programs also contact Gerald or me at our office (402-362-5508) for more information about clubs in the York area.
Proper Atrazine Application
During the many pesticide safety sessions I’ve been conducting this winter I’ve been reminding producers to follow the label and be sure to follow setback rules. Since approximately 1993, use of products containing atrazine have been prohibited within 50 feet of any well, whether it is in use or abandoned, as atrazine can contaminate groundwater. More recently, products containing acetochlor also have restricted use around wells, but only in cases where the depth to groundwater is less than 30 feet and the soil types are sandy (sands, sandy loams, and loamy sands) and also low in organic matter.
Within the last several years, products containing both atrazine and acetochlor have labels with the well restrictions for both active ingredients in the environmental restrictions section. Often, the less restrictive statement for acetochlor is given first, along with an eye-catching diagram showing a well and conditions where those acetochlor restrictions should be followed. This is followed by the atrazine restrictions, which are more restrictive than those for acetochlor.
It’s important for producers to remember that with any product containing both acetochlor and atrazine they must follow the more stringent atrazine restrictions, and are prohibited from being applied within 50 feet of any well, regardless of soil types, percent organic matter, and depth to groundwater at the well (see figure below). Atrazine products also have use restrictions for protecting surface water, namely, setbacks near streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, as well as considerations for fields with tile outlets. These restrictions must be followed, as indicated by the label, for all product mixtures containing atrazine.
We want to protect our environment and we don’t want to lose these products, so be sure and follow the label when using these or any pesticide.
